body was tried—­when every body had refused, and the Duke of Newcastle was ready to throw up the cards, he determined to try Fox,(617) who, by the mediation of Lord Granville, has accepted the seals, is to be secretary of state, is to have the conduct of the House of Commons, and is, I think-very soon to be first minister-or what one has known to happen to some who of very late years have joined to support a tottering administration, is to be ruined.  Indeed, he seems sensible of the alternative, professes no cordiality to Duke Trinculo, who is viceroy over him, but is listing Bedford’s, and whoever will list with him, as fast as he can.  One who has been his predecessor in suffering by such an alliance, my Lord Chesterfield, told him, “Well, the Duke of Newcastle has turned out every body else, and now he has turned out himself.”  Sir Thomas Robinson is to return to the great wardrobe, with an additional pension on Ireland of 2000 pounds a year.  This is turning a cipher into figures indeed!  Lord Barrington is to be secretary at war.  This change, however, is not to take place till after the Parliament is met, which is not till the 13th of’ next month, because Mr. Fox is to preside at the Cockpit the night before the House opens.  How Mr. Legge will take his deposition is not known.  He has determined not to resign, but to be turned out; I should think this would satisfy his scruples, even if he had made a vow against resigning.

As England grows turbulent again, Ireland grows calm again.  Mr. Conway, who has gone thither secretary to Lord Hartington, has with great prudence and skill pacified that kingdom:  you may imagine that I am not a little happy at his acquiring renown.  The Primate is to be the peace-offering.

If there were any private news, as there are none, I could not possibly to-day step out of my high historical pantoufles to tell it you.  Adieu!  You know I don’t dislike to see the Kings and queens and Knaves of this world shuffled backwards and forwards; consequently I look on, very well amused, and very indifferent whatever is trumps!

(614) Alluding to the King’s love of money.

(615 The daughters of Louis the Fifteenth.-D.

(616) The following is from Dodington’s Diary:-"Sept. 3.  Mr. Pitt told me, that he had painted to the Duke of Newcastle all the ill Consequences of this system of subsidies in the strongest light that his imagination could furnish him with:  he had deprecated his Grace not to complete the ruin which the King had nearly brought upon himself by his journey to Hanover, which all people should have prevented, even with their bodies.  A King abroad, at this time, without one man about him that has one English sentiment, and to bring home a whole set of subsidies!  That he was willing to promote the King’s service; but if this was what he was sent for to promote, few words were best—­nothing in the world should induce him to consent to these subsidies."-E.